Sports

A Look at Back at 30 Years of Red Bull Giving People Wings at Flugtag

Entering its third decade, Flugtag began in 1992 over the scenic Danube River in Vienna, Austria

The winners of the Red Bull Flugtag in 2021 in Vienna take the plunge

By Evan Bleier / July 29, 2022 7:03 am

Since Red Bull Flugtag began in 1992 over the scenic Danube River in Vienna, human-powered wings have taken off from 96 cities spread across 50 countries during 174 events. The event celebrated its 30th anniversary in mid-July as 34 teams made a splash into Lake Michigan at Milwaukee’s Veterans Park in front of more than 50,000 spectators In Flugtag, the crafts are judged on three criteria: the creativity and design of their craft, the showmanship of their skit and the distance traveled after taking off from the 27-foot platform. Courtesy of Red Bull, here’s a look back at three decades of high-flying fun at Flugtag.

PHOTO: Red Bull Content Pool

The Chicken Whisperers, based out of Palo Alto, California, took home first place as they set a new world record of 258 feet in the Red Bull Flugtag Race in Long Beach, California, in 2013. The team was made up of aerospace engineers from a Northern California aviation startup who crafted a lightweight airplane that soared above the rest. They still hold the world record today.

PHOTO: Carlo Cruz

The Oakley Factory Pilots prepped for flight in an expertly assembled Anglerfish-inspired aircraft at the Long Beach Flugtag Race.

PHOTO: Red Bull Content Pool

Team Heat paid homage to the 2012-2013 Miami Heat’s NBA Championship Team with a LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade-inspired aircraft at the Miami Flugtag Race in 2012.

PHOTO: Chris Tedesco/Red Bull Photofiles

This flying pizza airplane, Toss Pizza, from Team Save Salad made it just off the ramp’s edge in 2010 in Miami.

PHOTO: Mathieu Young

The Belligerent Buffalos, a team made up entirely of UC Santa Barbara students, took flight in a majestic buffalo aircraft with lawnmower-like wheels. The pilot was launched during takeoff at the 2013 Flugtag Race in Long Beach.

PHOTO: Red Bull Content Pool

Team NASCAR from Atlanta launched off the platform with thousands of spectators cheering at the 2017 Flugtag Race in Nashville.

PHOTO: Nate Watters

Team Rings of Fire showcased their intricate aircraft as it glided across the Tom McCall Waterfront Park at the 2015 Red Bull Flugtag Race in Portland, Oregon.

PHOTO: Red Bull Content Pool

Spectators raced to claim a spot to watch the action in 2015 at the race in Portland.

PHOTO: Ryan Taylor/ Red Bull

In July, Red Bull competition veterans Flight For Your Right to Party and their Viking-inspired craft were declared champions of Red Bull Flugtag Milwaukee with a remarkable jump of 66 feet and a perfect 50 from the judges’ panel.

PHOTO: Chris Tedesco

Flight For Your Right to Party were given a perfect score by Green Bay Packers all-time leading receiver Donald Driver, one of the judges in Milwaukee. “One of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever been through,” Driver said. “This is a very different atmosphere than I’m typically used to, but the judges loved it, the crowd loved it and Wisconsin loved it.”